Road Trip Games To Play In The Car
Did you know camping fun starts before you ever arrive at the campsite?
One of the most important camping tips to remember is to bring the games (especially if you camp with kids!)
If the thought of a long road trip to your camping destination has you dreading the journey, you might be astonished when these totally fun games to play on a road trip have you yearning for a few more miles!
These are the best travel games for kids, adults and the entire family to play together for the long drive on the road before you get to set up camp!
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10 Fun Camping Road Trip Games To Play In The Car
Our top 10 road trip games are so fun you might decide to play in the car and, once you arrive at the campsite you can keep on playing!
#1 Camping Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Game
Create a list of camping items you might see when traveling in a vehicle.
Each person has the same list and the first person who spots the item is the one who gets to cross it off their list.
The first person to cross off all of the items is the winner.
Some examples for your list:
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- A road sign for a campground
- An RV traveling down the road
- A bicycle on a vehicle bike rack
- A camping-related window decal, a camping-related license plate holder etc.
#2 Camping Words Road Trip Game
One person starts the game by saying a word related to camping.
The next person has to come up with a camping-related word that is related to the first word.
Each person adds one word that is related to the last word until someone can’t think of another word … at that point, that person is the loser of the round and gets a point.
The person with the least number of points is the winner.
Some examples:
- S’mores
- Campfire
- Kindling
- Matches
- Camp stove
- Griddle
- Pancakes
- Picnic table
- Camping spot, etc.
#3 Camping Alphabet Road Trip Game
Designate a category related to camping.
Each person in the vehicle must name a thing related to that category starting with the letter “A” and explaining how it is related to camping.
Continue the process going down the alphabet.
The first person unable to come up with a word is the loser of the round and gets a point.
At the end of the alphabet (or you arrive at your destination) tally up the points, the person with the least number of points is the winner.
Some category examples:
- Camping activities
- Camp food
- Camping gear
- National Parks, etc.
#4 Camping Fortunately/Unfortunately Road Trip Game
One person starts the game by making a statement about camping beginning with the word “fortunately”.
The next person responds to that statement beginning with the word “unfortunately” building on the story
The statements can be creative, fictional and fun.
Continue around the vehicle alternating between the positive and negative statements until someone can’t think of another statement.
That person is out of the game and the game continues until every player is eliminated except for the final one who is designated the winner.
Some examples:
- Fortunately, we reserved the last available spot at the campground for the weekend.
- Unfortunately, the rest of the spots are reserved by the Elvis Impersonator Convention.
- Fortunately, their rhinestone-studded costumes will attract fish to the shoreline and we can catch them with our hands.
- Unfortunately, …
#5 Twenty Camping Questions Road Trip Game
One person (the “thinker”) thinks of some camping-related person, place or thing, like Smokey Bear.
The other players get to ask a total of 20 yes/no questions.
The first person to guess correctly is the winner.
If nobody guesses correctly by the 20th question, the “thinker” wins and maintains the “thinker” position for the next round.
The player who wins the most rounds is the winner of the game.
This is one of those camping games that is fun to play around a campfire too!
#6 Camping Movie Road Trip Game
This game is similar to the 20 Camping Questions Road Trip Game except for this … the “thinker” thinks of a movie about camping or with camping-related scenes like The Great Outdoors with Dan Akroyd and John Candy, RV with Robin Williams and Cheryl Hines, Meatballs with Bill Murray, The Long, Long Trailer with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
The other players get to ask a total of 20 yes/no questions.
The first person to guess the movie title correctly is the winner.
If nobody guesses correctly by the 20th question, the “thinker” wins and maintains the “thinker” position for the next round.
The player who wins the most rounds is the winner of the game.
#7 Camping Emotions Road Trip Game
One player starts the game with a sentence about an emotion felt while camping … two of the words must include the letter “A”.
The next player uses that same sentence but replaces the two words that begin with the letter “A” with two different words that begin with the letter “A”.
Each player repeats the process and then a new sentence is created using the letter “B”.
If a player can’t think of a new word (no repeats allowed), they are out … the play continues through the alphabet until the last remaining player is declared the winner.
Some examples:
- I think camping is awesome because of the air.
- I think camping is adventurous because of the animals.
- Etc.
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#8 Would You Rather Camping Game
One person asks the other people in the car a “Would you rather ___________?” about a camping related topic.
There are no wrong answers and no winners or losers so there should be no pouting when playing this road trip game!
Some examples:
- Would you rather roast a hot dog or a marshmallow?
- Would you rather peel the potatoes for dinner or wash the dishes afterwards?
- Would you rather see a bear or a butterfly?
- Would you rather go for a hike or a swim?
- Would you rather eat a s’more or a pie iron pie?
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#9 I Could Use That Camping Game
The sign of a “real camper” is their ability to improvise when they don’t have the conveniences of home during camping trips in the great outdoors.
Using items visible during travel (images on billboards, objects seen in the car or along the road … things like soda cans, pieces of paper, vanity mirror, window sun shades etc.) and explain how they could use that item during camping trips.
The group designates the winner to be the person with the most creative innovations.
#10 What’s My Jellybean Name Road Trip Game
One person closes their eyes while another person selects a single Jelly Belly Bean secretly noting its flavor before feeding it to the person with closed eyes.
If that person guesses the correct flavor of the jellybean, they get a point.
If they don’t, they just get to eat a yummy little treat.
The person with the most correct answers wins.
Cautionary note: A few jellybeans are good but don’t play this game for your entire road trip or you will have a bunch of campers with unhappy bellies!
Book And Card Travel Games Are Fun Road Trip Games Too!
There are so many fun travel games designed especially for kids … some are even educational!
Here are some really popular road trip games that kids of all ages (including adults LOL) will enjoy playing while sitting for hours in the car!
Rubberneckers: Everyone’s Favorite Travel Game
Travel Scavenger Hunt Card Game For Kids
Don’t Forget The Snacks!
Road trip games are fun until everyone in the car begins to have growling tummies because they have not eaten in 200 miles!
Make sure you pack some awesome munchies and if you need some inspiration … check out our Road Trip Food Ideas And Travel Snacks post for some healthy options and some that let you splurge a bit!
Camping Road Trip Planning Help
Planning a camping road trip can get overwhelming but it does not have to be.
Grab your copy of our FREE printable camping trip planner template to make your experience stress-free and fun!
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